Title: Love After Love
Author : Elaine
Date 27.03.07
Chapter: 3
Rating : M
Characters : Ronon, Ellie, People of Atlantis and the SGC
Archiving : If You Want
Spoilers : None I am Aware Of
Disclaimers : Only Ellie is mine, the others, unfortunately, are not
Summary : Will Ellie and Ronon's love stand the test of time and all that fate has to throw at them?
Chapter 3
Ellie had put off going back to hers' and Ronon's quarters for as long as was humanly possible but now she was tired and in need of a shower. Warily she stepped inside their room, her shoulders relaxing when she realised Ronon didn't appear to be there. She headed straight to the bathroom and discarded her clothes.
She stepped into the shower, sighing deeply as hot jets of water soothed her tension.
Ronon had heard Ellie return but had not moved from his position on their balcony. His body reacted when he heard the water begin to run. Many a time she had not known he was back from a mission and he had surprised her by joining her, his hands sliding over her soap slick body... Tonight though he sensed Ellie would not appreciate his presence and so instead he lay upon their bed and waited for her to emerge.
She did so shortly after, gasping in surprise when she saw him.
"I didn't know you were here" she said seeming flustered about the fact she was naked and she quickly grabbed her dressing gown from a nearby chair and put it on, belting it loosely around her waist.
Ronon frowned. Ellie never normally bothered about being naked in front of him. He watched as she moved to the dresser and started to brush through her long brunette curls. He scooted to the edge of the bed and rested his elbows on his knees. Quietly he said,
"Ellie...talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking".
Ellie's brain scrambled for something to say. Suddenly she remembered what Elizabeth had said about getting Ronon and Teyla checked out.
"Have you had your examination yet?" she asked and Ronon shook his head.
"Not yet. Teyla's been with Beckett for most of the day though".
Ellie nodded and put her brush down as she realised she was in danger of making her scalp bleed she'd been brushing that hard. Her heart hurt when he even mentioned Teyla's name let alone if she
thought about what had happened. She turned and tried to walk past Ronon but he reached out and caught her hand, his eyes flying to her face when she snatched it back as if he'd burnt her.
"Ellie?" he said questioningly and that was when Ellie lost it. Completely lost it.
"What?" she snapped, What do you want me to say Ronon? That it doesn't matter that you've slept with one of my best friends? That it doesn't matter because your minds weren't your own? That every time I close my eyes I picture you with her...touching her? Because let me tell you, it does matter" and at this point her voice cracked and a sob escaped her and she clapped a hand to her mouth, turning away from him as tears threatened.
Ronon stood and wrapped his arms around her, holding her back against his chest when she struggled.
"Don't torture yourself" he said, resting his chin gently atop her head. "I'm not lying to you Ellie, I...we...we really don't know what happened...what came over us".
Ellie almost laughed through her sobs and the sound came out like a hiccup.
"On Earth that is a classic line from a man who's cheated".
Ronon spun her to face him and gripped her shoulders. He had never seen her looking so upset and it wrenched at his heart.
"I am not from Earth and I haven't 'cheated'...not intentionally. You know that's the truth right?" he said gruffly and Ellie stared up into his eyes, blinking as hers filled up with tears again.
Unable to stop herself she began to cry in earnest, ashamed of herself for breaking down so totally when she wasn't normally such an emotional person. She felt worse when Ronon pulled her against his chest and muttered what he must have assumed were soothing words in her ear.
Eventually he scooped her up and lay her on the bed. He curled behind her, pleased when she didn't move away. He held her, content to stay that way. She obviously needed time although it did not sit well with him that she still had not said she believed him.
He truthfully did not know what the hell had happened on that planet. All he did know was that Sheppard had woken him up and he'd found himself draped around Teyla and he'd had a raging headache.
Sometime in the night Ellie turned to face him, her fingers touching his lips as she looked at his face. Ronon looked back at her, remaining silent.
"Make love to me?" she said, her voice uncertain as though she feared he would say no.
Ronon needed no further encouragement but when he woke the next morning Ellie was gone.
ooOoo
The Odyssey arrived a day earlier than anticipated and Ellie rushed from the lab to Elizabeth's office when she got word.
She felt stressed and totally unprepared for the sight of Colonel Paul Emerson who was stood with Elizabeth and Sheppard looking calm, collected and even more attractive than she remembered.
Suddenly they noticed her hovering in the doorway and it was Emerson who spoke first.
"Ellie, it's great to see you" he said moving forward and Ellie smiled as he took her hands in his.
Sheppard and Weir exchanged glances as Ellie replied,
"It's good to see you too".
"I was just telling the Colonel that you can start work on The Odyssey as soon as he's ready" Elizabeth said and Ellie nodded, seemingly unable to look away from Emerson.
"Ready when you are" Emerson said indicating they head to his ship.
When they were gone Sheppard turned to Elizabeth.
"So...they already know each other?" he said and Elizabeth shrugged.
"Apparently" she replied and Sheppard sighed.
"Were they...you know?" he asked and Elizabeth smiled.
"That's none of your business...but I don't know" she answered and Sheppard grimaced.
"Ronon's gonna love this".
End of Part 3